Flying high on a Florida vacation

The nightlife scene in Florida starts as early or as late as you’d like. Seek out a waterfront tiki bar for Happy Hour and enjoy two-for-one frozen concoctions and – if you’re on the Gulf coast – an amazing sunset. Or, for late-night partying till dawn, hit the nightclubs in Miami and other Florida hotspots long after the sun goes down.

Whether your dream night out involves dancing to techno, a dimly-lit jazz club, a barefoot beach party or all of the above, you’ll find it in Florida.

North Florida
Nightlife in northwest Florida may be best known for the spring break haven Panama City Beach, home to beach clubs on the Gulf. However, downtown Pensacola’s Seville Quarter, a restored brick complex with wrought-iron balconies reminiscent of Bourbon Street, should not be missed. It’s filled with bars, eateries and clubs, many of which feature live entertainment. East of Pensacola, Destin and Fort Walton Beach play host to some of northwest Florida’s hottest nightspots.

Though it is the state capital, Tallahassee is a college town at heart. Coeds flock to Tennessee Street on the outskirts of the FSU campus nightly to partake in the not-so-famous “Tennessee Waltz,” where they try to hit every bar on the street.

In Northeast Florida, Jacksonville’s lively nightlife scene centers on Jacksonville Landing, a downtown entertainment, dining and shopping complex on the riverfront which hosts free live bands.

Central Florida
On Florida’s Gulf coast, Tampa’s historic Latin district, Ybor City, is a favorite with the under 30 sect. Filled with nightclubs and bars, Ybor City draws thousands of revelers to its streets on weekend nights. On Seventh Avenue, stroll by club after club and chose your dance spot of choice. Many have outdoor patios, or even rooftops or balconies. In the center of it all is Centro Ybor, a dining, shopping and entertainment complex.

Orlando’s theme parks are not just for kids. Both Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort have their own nightlife-centered entertainment complexes that get going after dark.

Disney’s Pleasure Island, an island made to look like an abandoned warehouse district, is actually chock-full of nightclubs of various themes. There’s a New Year’s Eve street party nightly, with a fireworks display and confetti spraying from the skies.

Also, Disney’s Boardwalk, with its 1930s Atlantic coastal village theme, has a few bars and clubs mixed in with the restaurants and shops.

Whether you’re looking to learn how to salsa, groove to 80s dance hits or settle back with a frozen margarita while listening to Jimmy Buffett tunes in an open-air tropical bar, Universal’s CityWalk, with its stunning array of themed nightclubs and eateries, is sure to have something to interest you.

South Florida
In Miami’s South Beach, you can sip a Key lime martini under the stars while rubbing elbows with the stars.

Begin the night at a glittering outdoor café on Lincoln Road or saddle up to one of the sophisticated hotel bars lining Collins Avenue. For a true nighttime South Beach experience, though, make sure to cross the velvet rope and check out a trendy dance club. There’s even a club where your status determines whether you can reach the highest floor.

Party in Key West, Florida’s southernmost point, where you can gulp down a frosty margarita at one of many open-air bars. At sunset, head to Mallory Square, where throngs gather nightly to watch the sun go down and be entertained by street performers and musicians. Then do the “Duval Crawl,” stopping at all the pubs and clubs on the famous – or infamous – Duval Street. Many watering holes feature live bands.

The hot nightspots in Key West range from a clothing-optional rooftop bar to the historic haunts of Ernest Hemingway. Key West offers a relaxing, live-and-let-live, Jimmy Buffett-approved atmosphere.

In Fort Lauderdale, nightlife is always in fashion, especially in the chic Las Olas area, home to upscale restaurants and lounges, jazz and blues joints and nightclubs. Visit Las Olas Riverfront, a dining, nightlife, shopping and entertainment complex on the New River. Or spend the evening bar-hopping on Las Olas Boulevard.

Clematis Street is the place to be in downtown West Palm Beach, where nightspots range from clubs with VIP rooms and DJs blaring techno music, to more laid-back bars and live entertainment venues.

 By Kara Chalmers

 Courtesy of: www.visitflorida.com